Sunday Salon – Rolling Along

It is an absolutely gorgeous day here outside of Chicago. This is quite lucky, as our church met outside this morning. We don’t have our own building yet and generally meet in a local high school. However, this weekend said high school is having their graduation, so instead we met at the gazebo in the little town center. Brian and I decided that today would be a good day to try to ride our bikes down to the service. It was between 30 and 45 minutes down there, we had church, everyone hung out for a bit on the lawn, Brian and I rode up to lunch and sat outdoors, rode over to the bike shop to pick up more accessories, and finally rode home (found short cut that only took just over 20 minutes). Suffice as to say, I’m a bit sunburned and have not gotten a lot of reading done.

This week was a book club week for me, which are always fun. Our book this month was “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides. Those of us who read it really quite enjoyed it (you can see my review here). Our wine for the night was Albarino which is a white from Spain. I must say, I thought better of the book than of the wine. Of course, I’m more of a red wine girl. If it is too hot for red wine, I’d generally prefer a mojito or a daquiri to a glass of white wine. It was a good time overall, however. We aren’t able to meet in June, so we’re going to read “The Double Bind” together with “The Great Gatsby” and discuss them both in July.

The other good thing about book club is the extra time it gives me. I work in Chicago, and all of the girls in my book/wine club actually live in the city, as I used to do. Brian and I live a way out in the Chicago suburbs. If I were to drive home after work and before book club, I’d have just enough time to get comfortable enough that I would never want to leave again. So instead, I generally either babysit for a friend so she can go out, or I sit at my office when everyone’s gone and just read. This month was a ‘just read’ sort of month. I sat at my desk for about three hours and just read. I finished up “Have I got a Guy for You” (review here) and started a “The Leper Compound,” which was sent to me by Literary Ventures Fund. I’m also working on an ARC of “Alive in Necropolis,” which is not at all the sort of book I would normally read, but I am enjoying it so far. the plot has something to do with vengeful ghosts, although that hasn’t become a huge part of the action yet.

Well, Saloners, I’m off to do some work around the house so I can do some more reading tonight! Make sure to check out my big contest, there are only a couple more days to enter. I will likely announce winners either Tuesday or Wednesday. You can win ANY book I have reviewed so far.

The bike ride sounds awesome! We do a lot of bike riding too. I love Chicago this time of year when the weather’s nice. My friend lived in Oak Park for a few years and I visited her several times. Chicago is great in late spring!!

Ooo..I’m much more of a red wine kind of girl myself. Thanks for mentioning your next book club book, The Double Blind. The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books and The Double Blind is now on my too-read list.